THE LOTUS ROOM

The Lotus Room is the theater district’s newest modern Asian dining experience (it just opened in September to rave reviews on Yelp and other consumer dining apps. The restaurant blends contemporary Asian cuisine with sophisticated design—and even includes a candlelit speakeasy entered through a real confessional.

The Lotus Room was founded by Josh Kessler, a hospitality maverick known for immersive, high-design venues; the kitchen is helmed by Executive Chef John Creger, a Baltimore native with over 25 years of experience. Creger cut his teeth working under culinary superstars like Bobby Flay, Terrance Brennan, and David Burke, and has also worked in assorted Michelin-level kitchens. This friendly executive chef has also appeared on the Food Network and been a guest chef at the James Beard House’s private dinners.

LIGHTER STARTERS
The Lotus Room has plates big enough for sharing, and the staff is accommodating. There are numerous food options for vegans and pescatarians. My guest and I enjoyed the lighter starters, including the Seaweed Salad with mizuna, Fuji apple, and spiced walnuts and the Japanese Eggplant Dip featuring smoked eggplant, black sesame, sweet soy, and rice crackers.

This stylish midtown eatery actually has a totally stellar list of items for the veggie crowd. A standout option that my guest and I devoured was the Agedashi Cauliflower, which is lightly tempura-fried then poached in dashi and served with kimchi aioli and togarashi. We also enjoyed the Stir-Fried Snap Peas & Lotus Root, dressed in a spicy ginger-scallion sauce with peanuts and cilantro for crunch and heat. The Miso-Roasted Carrots feature smoked labneh, a yuzu-kosho dressing, and puffed rice, and for those who like more boldly flavored vegetarian dishes, there is the Charred Cabbage with tobanjan broth, chili, crispy shallots, and black garlic oil. The Spicy Sesame Cucumber is refreshing, light and crunchy.

They have arguably the most popular catfish entree in the entire city which is simply called Crispy Catfish—it’s locally caught catfish grilled with a sauce consisting of chili, cilantro, Szechuan pepper and red miso.

SHAREABLE SHOWSTOPPERS
Other shareable showstoppers that guests have been coming back for are Wagyu Skewers, which is simply chunks of ultra-tender beef cooked and marinated with soy sauce, brown sugar, Gochujang and black garlic aioli and sided with baked sweet potatoes. The turmeric-seasoned Chicken Satay sided with a spicy peanut sauce and cucumber vinegar was my first choice from the menu when visiting The Lotus Room and it was super juicy! I almost ordered a second helping but I had to leave room for more food. I did taste my guest’s Wagyu Skewers, though—and I quickly learned why he wanted to keep them all to himself!

You usually don’t find veal in Asian cooking but the cutting-edge chefs at The Lotus Room have conjured up the delicious Veal Katsu, which is panko coated and cooked with Japanese BBQ sauce, bok choy and enoki mushrooms.

We perused Yelp for other favorites with regular diners and we saw that people love the Toro Tacos made with fatty tuna, avocado mousse, yuzu aioli, and crispy wontons, Salmon Carpaccio dressed in sesame and chives with a touch of yuzu. The Prawn Toast, which features a prawn mousse, ikura (fish roe), spicy mustard, and hoisin-plum sauce, is often recommended by the servers.

BRING ON THE
BLACK TRUFFLE
LOBSTER DUMPLINGS
If you are a lover of anything with lobster, try the Black Truffle Lobster Dumplings; they feature butter-poached lobster wrapped in delicate dumpling dough, coated in a shiny black truffle soy butter emulsion, and topped with a bright, citrusy yuzu ponzu. You get five dumplings in one serving and they strike a beautiful balance of rich umami, silky sweetness from the lobster, and a refreshing pop from the yuzu. It’s one of The Lotus Room’s signature dishes and a great choice if you’re looking to start with something indulgent, refined and sophisticated (it will undoubtedly impress your date, LOL).

What about dessert? The Lotus Room doesn’t have a large, traditional dessert menu—usually, guests can pick from Black Sesame Gelato, a Green Tea Crepe Cake, or Pandan Donuts. These desserts reflect the restaurant’s modern Asian aesthetic: the Black Sesame Gelato brings a nutty, slightly savory-sweet flavor; the Green Tea Crepe Cake is delicate and layered; and the Pandan Donuts add a tropical, aromatic twist. Desserts are subject to change, so be sure to discuss the night’s options with your server. Most recently, Ube Cheesecake (which is very purple) has been added to the menu and has become a fan favorite in no time!

I shared both the Pandan Donuts and the bright green Green Tea Crepe Cake with my guest and both tasted freshly baked but I would say that the donuts provided a much deeper flavor profile—the taste is slightly grassy and floral, with a sweet, nutty edge and a hint of vanilla. There’s also a whisper of coconut in there.

Who is The Lotus Room’s typical clientele? This progressive Asian eatery tends to attract a chic, experience-driven crowd—people who come not just for the food, but for a complete night out that includes live music and drinks at the aforementioned speakeasy area of the restaurant. The Lotus Room is especially appealing to dinner-and-entertainment seekers, creative professionals, theatergoers, and social influencers who appreciate lively vibes as much as unusual cuisine.

The Lotus Room is actually a quiet and romantic setting if you go when a band is not onstage. The dramatic, free-form lighting, retro wall hangings and bright floral arrangements almost make the main dining room seem like a SoHo art gallery that only the hippest people know about. There is a no-rush atmosphere at The Lotus Room despite being in the busiest part of Manhattan; be sure to ask to see the exotic cocktail and artisanal sake menus for drink experiences that you cannot get anywhere else in town.

For more information on The Lotus Room, visit thelotusroomnyc.com